A ground handling facility (1) for passenger-transporting aircraft (100), in particular vertical takeoff and landing multicopters, including: at least one first platform (2) which is designed as a landing platform (2) for a passenger-transporting aircraft (100), wherein a) the at least one first platform is simultaneously designed as a takeoff platform for a passenger-transporting aircraft (100), or b) wherein a second platform (3) is provided which is designed as a takeoff platform (3) for a passenger-transporting aircraft (100); at least one region (4) which is designed as weather protection for the passengers and the aircraft (100), in particular by provision of a canopy; and at least one conveying device (5.1; 5.2; 5.3) for the aircraft (100) that is designed to move the aircraft (100) from the landing platform (2) through the region (4) to the takeoff platform (3), in which region there is provided at least one station (6.1-6.4) which is configured for a predetermined interaction with the aircraft (100).

A device for launching an object is described. The device comprises a frame affixed to the launch pad, a push element for pushing an object detached from the launch pad, and a flexible force storing element for turning the push element in relation to the frame. The device has a casing fixed to the frame at a fixing point for holding the object in place against the push element. The device has a lock element for locking the casing in standby position. The frame and the push element are superposed and connected to each other at one edge of the device. The frame and the push element are substantially parallel. Force stored in the force storing element is releasable for displacing the push element at a moment of launch. The force storing element may be at least one spring or elastic band or an extension spring.

An unmanned aircraft system includes an automated recovery system that can recover aircraft in a reliable, economical manner, using a dual-pole and line mechanism.

An unmanned aircraft system includes an automated recovery system that can recover aircraft in a reliable, economical manner, using a dual-pole and line mechanism.

A ground-based vectored thrust system for landings and take-off of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The vectored thrust system provides an upward thrust on the VTOL aircraft when in proximity to the pad. The upward thrust can supplement the thrust system of the VTOL aircraft, or can be used exclusively to elevate the VTOL aircraft. A control unit can control one or more of the components of the vectored thrust system. The control unit can also be configured to take-over the flight of the VTOL aircraft when it is within a predetermined flight envelope of the pad.

A ground-based vectored thrust system for landings and take-off of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The vectored thrust system provides an upward thrust on the VTOL aircraft when in proximity to the pad. The upward thrust can supplement the thrust system of the VTOL aircraft, or can be used exclusively to elevate the VTOL aircraft. A control unit can control one or more of the components of the vectored thrust system. The control unit can also be configured to take-over the flight of the VTOL aircraft when it is within a predetermined flight envelope of the pad.

An intelligent system for controlling driving of an aircraft tow tractor by means of combination of voice and vision includes an audio transmission line, a voice recognition system, a visual recognition system, and a vehicle-mounted motion controller. According to the intelligent system, visual recognition is performed based on a belly-mounted anti-collision light on an aircraft, a taxi light, and the visual recognition system on an aircraft tow tractor, and the aircraft tow tractor is intelligently controlled by means of combination of voice recognition and the visual recognition; furthermore, the aircraft tow tractor is intelligently controlled by voices of flight crew via the audio transmission line, safety in a towing process is guaranteed by the visual recognition, and each step in the towing process is performed by means of a cross validation based on the voice recognition and the visual recognition.

An intelligent system for controlling driving of an aircraft tow tractor by means of combination of voice and vision includes an audio transmission line, a voice recognition system, a visual recognition system, and a vehicle-mounted motion controller. According to the intelligent system, visual recognition is performed based on a belly-mounted anti-collision light on an aircraft, a taxi light, and the visual recognition system on an aircraft tow tractor, and the aircraft tow tractor is intelligently controlled by means of combination of voice recognition and the visual recognition; furthermore, the aircraft tow tractor is intelligently controlled by voices of flight crew via the audio transmission line, safety in a towing process is guaranteed by the visual recognition, and each step in the towing process is performed by means of a cross validation based on the voice recognition and the visual recognition.

A method of transiting at least one aircraft arriving in and departing out of an integrated, multi-level airport terminal system is disclosed. The method includes determining at least one transiting requirement of at least one aircraft arriving to an airport runway, ascertaining the positions of all the other aircraft transiting through a cell of a row, guiding the aircraft from the airport runway on to a ramp member, facilitating the transiting requirement of the aircraft within the enclosed internal environment of the cell of the row in a sequential and linear arrangement, and directing the aircraft out of the enclosed internal environment of the cell of the row to an engine run up area for the at least one aircraft to depart the integrated, multi-level airport terminal.

A method of transiting at least one aircraft arriving in and departing out of an integrated, multi-level airport terminal system is disclosed. The method includes determining at least one transiting requirement of at least one aircraft arriving to an airport runway, ascertaining the positions of all the other aircraft transiting through a cell of a row, guiding the aircraft from the airport runway on to a ramp member, facilitating the transiting requirement of the aircraft within the enclosed internal environment of the cell of the row in a sequential and linear arrangement, and directing the aircraft out of the enclosed internal environment of the cell of the row to an engine run up area for the at least one aircraft to depart the integrated, multi-level airport terminal.